Swiss Post’s Self-Driving Taxis Set to Carry Passengers From 2027

Switzerland is moving closer to a driverless transport future as Swiss Post’s PostBus division prepares to introduce self-driving taxis for passenger use from 2027.

The Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) has granted PostBus Switzerland a special permit to operate autonomous vehicles in eastern Switzerland. While the vehicles are already in operation, safety drivers are still present on board during the testing phase.

Pilot Area Across Eastern Switzerland

Since June 1, the self-driving “AmiGo” vehicles have been operating in a designated 80-square-kilometre test area covering parts of the cantons of St Gallen, Appenzell Outer Rhodes, and Appenzell Inner Rhodes.

In this phase, safety drivers are allowed to take their hands off the steering wheel under controlled conditions, which is why the service is described as “hands-free” operation.

Full Driverless Operation Planned

PostBus Switzerland plans to begin regular passenger operations in 2027, with up to 25 fully autonomous vehicles operating without safety drivers.

The initiative marks a major step in Switzerland’s development of automated mobility systems and smart transport infrastructure.

Collaboration With Global Tech Partners

The “AmiGo” project is being developed in collaboration with Apollo Go, the robotaxi unit of Chinese technology company Baidu. The vehicles are designed to operate at Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can handle most driving tasks independently under defined conditions.

A central control centre will monitor all journeys in real time and can intervene remotely if necessary to ensure passenger safety.

Advancing Switzerland’s Transport Innovation

Swiss authorities see autonomous transport as a key part of the country’s future mobility strategy, improving efficiency and expanding public transport access in both urban and rural regions.

The pilot program is also expected to provide valuable data for future expansion of driverless services across Switzerland.

Driverless PostBus Hits Swiss Bank in Nunningen

A driverless public transport bus operated by PostBus Switzerland crashed into a bank building in Nunningen on Thursday evening, causing significant property damage but no injuries.

According to the cantonal police, the articulated autonomous bus began rolling for reasons that are still under investigation at around 8:35 pm while it was stationary at a stop on Zullwilerstrasse.

The vehicle crossed a traffic island before colliding directly with the façade of a local bank branch. Authorities confirmed that both the building and the bus sustained considerable damage in the impact.

Emergency services responded quickly to the scene, but no passengers or bystanders were injured in the incident.

Police in Switzerland have launched an investigation to determine what caused the driverless vehicle to move unexpectedly. Technical failure, system malfunction, or braking issues have not been ruled out at this stage.

Driverless and semi-autonomous public transport systems have been increasingly tested across Switzerland and Europe as part of efforts to modernise urban mobility and improve efficiency. However, the incident highlights ongoing safety challenges associated with autonomous transport technologies.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the bus was in fully autonomous mode at the time of the accident or whether a remote operator was monitoring the system.

The investigation is ongoing, and further technical assessments are expected in the coming days.